The Best Photo Tech of CES 2016

CES 2016 kicked off this week and tech companies from around the world are unveiling and monstrous stream of brand new technology, gear, and products. Resource has hit the show floor to seek out the most unique, peculiar, and interesting photo tech. Here’s a round-up what we’ve encountered so far. Click the images or product name for the full story on each piece of gear.

Parrot is in the process of developing a new kind of drone that features an airplane style design. It’s called the Disco due to the fact that it only has on propeller that reaches a power of 49.7 miles per hour.

Lexar has announced an an upgraded 512GB and 256GB tiny versions of portable SSD that can transfer data up to 450MB/s and white data at 250MB/s. The Lexar Portable SSD comes with a limited two-year warranty and will be available for purchase in Q1 2016 at price point of $149.99 (256GB) and $249.99 (512GB).

During their press conference, Sony has announced the coming of FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder, along with two other systems – the HDR-CX675 and the HDR-CX455. The idea idea of the camcorders were designed to stand along Sony’s 2016 lineup and sold at a reasonable price ($1000).

Keeping the momentum going, Sony has announced an action camera that can compete with the ever so popular GoPro system. The camera features an an 11.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with a Zeiss Tessar lens. The premise of the camera is to give the active person quality photos and videos picked into a small waterproof system.

Panasonic’s announcement of its new 100-400 Leica lens offers a full frame equivalency of 200-800mm at 7” long and a light two pounds. It features a POWER optical Image Stabilization, 240 fps quiet focusing motor, and an f/4-6.3 maximum aperture. It is available for preorder at just under $1,800.

The KeyMission 360 is Nikon’s first action camera with a “true” 360 degree capture in 4K. The camera is waterproof up to 30 meters/100 feet and is shock proof from a drop of 2 meters/6.6 feet. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

The Nikon D500 features a 153 AF system and a brand new EXPEED 5 image processor. It also shoots 10 fps for 200 shots in RAW format, not to mention it can shoot video at 4K. The 20.9-megapixel camera is aimed at advanced enthusiasts and pro photographers. Availability for the D500 will take place in March for $1,999.95.

The camera that is said to be what “the industry has been waiting for”, Nikon announces the D5. The autofocus feature received close attention, saying that shooting at 12 fps both the accuracy and stability will still hold its peak performance level regardless of the situation and lighting. Some other features include a 20.8-megapixel FX sensor, ISO range from 100-102,400 (but can expand to 3,280,000), 4K Video, and a EXPEED 5 engine. Release date is set in March at the price of $6,499.95

The Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Ultra Slim is over 50% thinner than the competing hard drives on the market. Its design allows you to keep more than 500,00 songs, 320,000 photos or 240 hours of HD video. It also comes with 200GB of free Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage for two years and features Lyve software, which automatically organizes photos and videos into a single library. There is no current information on availability and price.

Features include a 3.5 touchscreen LCD and 13-megapixel CMOS sensor that can shoot up to 1080p video. Bluetooth connectivity is also available, giving users a chance to print their photos through an app available for free on iOS and Android. For the selfie lovers, the small camera comes with a pop-up mirror. The Zink’s Zero Ink Printing Technology feature allows users to print full color 2×3 inch photos instantly. The Snap+ will be available in Q4 of 2016.

Oculus, a household name in the VR world, are thanking their original supporters on Kickstarter by giving them a Kickstarter Edition Oculus Rift for FREE. Giving back to those who have backed you up from the beginning is always a good route to take. Head over to their post on Kickstarter for more info.

Derek Balarezo is a photographer based in Downtown, New York. He began pursuing a career in photography in his junior year of college while finishing up a degree in media communications. Derek’s approach is to keep things as natural as possible, whether it be from fashion editorial work to documentary, it’s important for him to capture a moment and present it in an honest way.